Atom RSS

Step aside, New York Yankees, you’re about to be passed up in the amount of money you spend of player salaries.

When the 2013 MLB season begins, the Los Angeles Dodgers will have the highest player payroll in the league. You have to go back to 1998 when the Orioles had the top Opening Day player payroll total of $70,408,134 while the Yankees were at #2 with $63,159,898 to find a club other than the Yankees at the top of the heap.

The Dodgers will also have the distinction in 2013 of having one of the highest total player payroll ever when we get back to play in April. The Yankees currently hold that position with the 2009 Opening Day player payroll of $209,081,577 2009 ($217,712,913 when accounting for inflation). The Dodgers are currently projected to have an Opening Day payroll of nearly $208 million when adjusting for money coming over from the Red Sox. That figure will rise well over that mark as Ronald Belisario and A.J. Ellis reach arbitration settlements or rulings.

NOTE: Includes salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses and other guaranteed income. For some players, parts of deferred signing bonuses and salaries are discounted to reflect present-day values. Does not include unsigned players on 40-man roster who are not eligible for salary arbitration